Uniko - theme ....

.... Morning! I'm running late again (sorry guys) with my DT card for our challenge at Uniko - USC#36. We have a theme for you this month - AUTUMN with the option of Thanks. I've made a sympathy card as I need to replenish my supply, and I find it easier to make them when I don't actually need them. You know what I mean. Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Natures Treasures I, Natures Treasures II, Simply Said; Stampin' Up! - Bloom with Hope
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress - Fired Brick, Vintage Photo, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Hickory Smoke
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Cajun Craze; Clear Embossing Powder

I've based this card on the photo over at TIME OUT Challenges - TOC#66 - I really like the way the window opens onto the autumn colours. I masked the edge of my card and sponged on several colours adding a darker edge with hickory smoke to suggest the window frame. I splashed on some water droplets - just love the way distress inks react with water. Dried them off to give a lovely mottled effect. I used my MISTI to position and stamp the sentiment. I then stamped some foliage images with distress ink. On the inside I cut a mat layer of rust card and on the white panel added a simple verse and more foliage.

Do visit our blog to see more inspiration from the Bev and the rest of the team. You've got plenty of time to join in with us - deadline for submission is midnight BST (7.00pm EDT) Friday 14th October. Oh yes, if you need more encouragement to join in, there are prizes - details on Bev's blog! Have fun!

UC - Anything Goes ....

.... Morning!  Winter has finally arrived in Michigan.  After a very slow start, with December being almost entirely snow free and much warmer than normal, this past week has seen WINTER!!!  In fact I didn't go out of the house on Monday and Tuesday, but stayed inside.  I have to admit that I didn't get too much crafting done - I was out shovelling the snow off the drive and paths!  Hey ho!

It's time for the first Uniko Challenge  - USC#28 of the year.  We've kept things nice and simple for the first challenge with a theme of ANYTHING GOES, but if you want, there's also the option of "LOVE".  I went for the AG option and made a sympathy card - I seem to have none left in my stash.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Uniko - Nature's Treasures 1, Flower Power #1
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Baja Breeze, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding; Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Lil Inkers - Stitched Rectangles #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Tim Holtz Watercolour Paper

I used a couple of challenges in the making of this card.  At Happy Little Stampers CAS - HLSCAS01 the challenge is to use the 'smooshing' technique and I've picked the colours from the current House of Cards Challenge - HOC01-16.

I die cut a piece of watercolour paper as the smooshing technique works so much better on this than my normal card!  Guess you'll know how I found that out ;)  This technique is so easy.  I pressed a small acrylic block on the ink pad, lightly spritzed it with water and then pressed it on the watercolour paper - I love the random effect it gives.  Once the ink was dry I stamped the fern image in Versafine ink and used the second impression to give a shadow.  Next I stamped the sentiment.  I finished by matting the paper on black card.  On the inside I cut another mat of black card and on the white panel I added three ferns using the green inks.

Do visit the Uniko blog to check out the inspiration cards from the rest of the team.  And, as always, there are prizes - full details on Bev's blog.  Have fun!